Associated Press:

Rubio says US won’t govern Venezuela but will press for changes through oil blockade

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio is suggesting the United States won’t govern Venezuela other than enforcing an existing “oil quarantine” on the country. The turnaround Sunday comes after President Donald Trump announced a day earlier the U.S, would be running Venezuela following its ouster of President NicolౠMaduro. Rubio’s statements on TV talk shows seemed designed to temper concerns about whether the assertive American action to achieve regime change might again produce a prolonged foreign intervention or failed attempt at nation-building. They stood in contrast to Trump’s broad but vague claims that the U.S. would at least temporarily “run” the oil-rich nation, comments that suggested some sort of governing structure under which Caracas would be controlled by Washington.

The Latest: Rubio suggests US won’t run Venezuela day-to-day

Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested the United States would not take a day-to-day role in governing Venezuela, a turnaround after President Donald Trump announced a day earlier that the U.S. would be running Venezuela following its ouster of leader NicolౠMaduro. Rubio’s statements on TV talk shows seemed designed to temper concerns about whether the assertive American action to achieve regime change might again produce a prolonged foreign intervention or failed attempt at nation-building. They stood in contrast to Trump’s broad but vague claims that the U.S. would at least temporarily “run” the oil-rich nation. Meanwhile, a tense calm hangs over Venezuela.

‘Still shaken’: Trepidation in Venezuela after US captures Maduro

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelans remain in shock after President Nicolas Maduro was deposed and captured in a U.S. military operation. An anxious quiet has settled over the capital of Caracas, with many stores and churches closed. Maduro is in custody in New York, but his officials remain in power and demand his release. U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted that his administration will run Venezuela. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio instead has spoken of using control of Venezuela’s oil industry to force policy changes. Meanwhile, the streets are quiet, with fears of government repression and memories of past crackdowns lingering.

Maduro’s case will revive a legal debate over immunity for foreign leaders tested in Noriega trial

MIAMI (AP) — When Nicolas Maduro appears in a New York courtroom to face U.S. drug charges, he’ll be following follow a path taken Panama’s Manuel Noriega, another strongman who was toppled by American forces. As was the case with Noriega, lawyers for Maduro are expected to challenge his arrest by claiming sovereign immunity. That’s a bedrock principal of international and U.S. law. But legal experts say that argument is unlikely to succeed because the U.S. doesn’t recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader. They say courts are likely to allow the prosecution to proceed despite broader constitutional questions about the U.S. military action that led to his capture.

US intervention in Venezuela could test Trump’s ability to hold GOP together in an election year

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s military intervention in Venezuela is testing his ability to hold the Republican coalition together. Concerns have emerged even as many Republicans initially backed the mission to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Trump’s comments about the U.S. “running” Venezuela have raised fears that he’s abandoning his “America First” philosophy. Outgoing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has criticized this approach, as has moderate Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. Despite Trump’s dominance in the GOP, his grip has faced challenges. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is suggesting the U.S. wouldn’t manage Venezuela daily, but concerns remain about the fallout from Washington’s intervention.

Sign up for TPR Today, Texas Public Radio’s newsletter that brings our top stories to your inbox each morning.

Elio Mendoza was woken up in his home near Caracas Saturday morning by the sound of airplanes and explosions.

Mendoza said he imagined he was awakened by what has been happening in the news. “And then,” he said in Spanish, “when I turned on the television, it was confirmed.”

The United States had launched a military assault on Venezuela. President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and taken to the United States.

Mendoza teaches Spanish online and lives on the outskirts of Venezuela’s capital city.

He said that hours later, the streets in his neighborhood were deserted and tense.

“And well, just like today, there is no one out and about. Everything is closed. No one is around,” he said.

Mendoza said people are staying informed and finding out what’s happening by getting their news on YouTube. He said they also gets some information from the internet.

They were even able to watch President Trump deliver remarks after the attack.

Mendoza heard Trump say there will be a government run by the United States while the situation stabilizes. And elections will be called again. But Mendoza said new elections aren’t necessary.

He said that opposition leaders Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia were already elected.

In a small town eight hours from Caracas, Marian Garcia says she hasn’t been able to sleep since the attack.

“I have not slept at all,” she said in Spanish.

She was at a street party when suddenly the music was turned off, and everyone was told to go home.

She said that she and her friends don’t take their cellphones when they go out at night because they fear they will be mugged.

“Everyone was confused,” she said. “When I got home, my mother showed me (on her cellphone) what was going on.”

Garcia said her family in Caracas have told her they are safe. But one of her neighbors, a member of the Venezuelan military, was killed.

“There are photos of him,” she said. “We don’t know how he died, but we know he died in that situation,” she added, referring to the attack.

Garcia said life in Venezuela has been difficult for years. Food is expensive — when you can find it. Health care isn’t available. Poverty is widespread.

“I am not going to forgive this government, no. They have caused so much harm to families and young people.”

Garcia said if President Trump is seeking access to the country’s oil, she believes that could be beneficial.

“I think it can be beneficial for both countries,” she said. “Both the United States and Venezuela.”

Metsly Rodriguez had already given up on Venezuela. She has dual citizenship, and six months ago, she moved to Bogatá Colombia. Saturday morning, she was surprised that the U.S. attack happened, but she understood why it did.

“It’s because in Venezuela, we live in a dictatorship,” she said in Spanish.

But now things are going to change.

“It’s a big change,” she said. “It fills me with happiness after so many years of repression— 25 years. But I remain worried—because we just don’t know what can happen next.”